Trafficking bill caught up in legislative standoff

ALBANY — Unless one side budges, a bill to combat human trafficking could again become a casualty to a standoff in the New York Legislature.

The legislation to increase penalties for sex traffickers passed the Senate unanimously on Thursday.

Assembly leaders have included the measure in a broad, 10-point women’s equality bill that also contains language matching state law with the rights spelled out in the Roe v. Wade decision. Many senators object to the abortion piece, however, and say the Assembly should split up the bill to allow separate votes on the other nine provisions.